There had been a verbal dispute between Curtis’s brother-in-law and his partner and on this occasion he pulled a hammer from his waistband and threatened his sister-in-law, according to witnesses.

Mr Pietryka said Curtis was arrested and admitted to police he had been in an altercation. Curtis told police there was background to the dispute and he had got annoyed but could not remember much about the hammer.

Stuart Wild, defending, said Curtis did not actually threaten the woman. He said his brother-in-law and his wife lived next door while Curtis and his partner lived with their youngest daughter and kept themselves to themselves.

Mr Wild said during the previous evening there had been an argument next door when two males went to the house. The argument had gone on late into the night and kept their daughter awake.

Mr Wild said Curtis had taken umbrage at this and next morning he had got into an altercation next door and foolishly took out the hammer.

Mr Wild said: “He did not actually threaten his sister-in-law. It was an impulsive reaction and he undertook it under extreme provocation. It was a one-off isolated incident for which he is extremely sorry.”

Grantham magistrates imposed a nine-month conditional discharge on Curtis and ordered him to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

l A Bourne man has denied assaulting another man occasioning him actual bodily harm. Mark Hayden Porter, 43, of Baldwin Grove, Bourne, denied the assault in Bourne on November 21.

Grantham magistrates adjourned the case for trial to Lincoln Crown Court on July 18.